During the month of April, we are shining a spotlight on food waste. Did you know that in the United States alone, 30-40% of all food produced goes to waste? This is a surprising statistic when you consider the impact that food waste has on both the environment and our communities.

Food waste is about more than just the leftovers that are throw away at home; it’s a problem that impacts the entire food supply chain including production, processing, transportation, and retail. Because of this, perfectly good food that could feed needy families is instead sent to landfills. Now is the time for us to come together as a community and take action to reduce food waste and its negative impacts. Want to get involved? Here are a few simple steps you can take:

• Take time to plan your meals for the week and make a shopping list before heading to the store.
• Avoid impulse buys and bulk purchases unless you’re confident you’ll use everything before it spoils.
• Learn the difference between “best-by,” “sell-by,” “use-by,” and freeze-by” dates.
• Store food correctly to maximize its freshness and shelf life and make sure that older items are used first.
• Find new ways to use leftover ingredients. Cook once and eat twice by using leftovers for new dishes.
• Learn simple food preservation techniques like freezing to extend the shelf life of perishable items.
• If you find yourself with excess food, consider donating it to a local food bank.
• Instead of tossing food scraps in the trash, compost them to create nutrient-rich soil for a garden.

By implementing these strategies in your daily life, you can play a significant role in reducing food waste and its negative impacts on our environment and communities. Let’s work together to make a difference!

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